Newspaper dispensing machine



1951 J. E. OPGENORTH NEWSPAPER DISPENSING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 16, 1948 INVENTOR IE Opgehori]:

ATTORNEYS 1951 Y J. E. OPGENORTH 2,576,636

NEWSPAPER DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR J: .E'. Opgen orih 58 ATTORNEYS Nov. 27, 1951 J. E. OPGENORTH 2,576,636

NEWSPAPER DISPENSING MACHINE I Filed Aug. 16, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR J..E'. Opgen orlh ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,576,636 NEWSPAPER DISPENSING MACHINE John Edward Opgenorth, Alameda, Calif.

Application August 16, 1948,Ser'i'al No. 44,487 8 Claims. (Cl. 31 255) This invention relates to, and it is an object to provide, a novel machine for dispensing newspapers, one at a time, to customers.

Another object of the invention is to provide anewspaper dispensing machine which includes a newspaper feeding unit arranged in reciprocating relation within a housing and in cooperative relation to a stack of newspapers therein, feeding one newspaper from the housing with each reciprocation of said unit; the latter being manually actuated by the customer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a newspaper dispensing machine, as in the preceding paragraph wherein the newspaper feeding unit is of novel design operative to function successfully in connection with a stack of newspapers which diminishes in height as the newspapers are successively dispensed from the top of said stack.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a newspaper dispensin machine wherein the aforesaid reciprocating newspaper feeding unit has a constant length of travel or stroke regardless of the height of the stack of newspapers; this being essential to proper feeding of each newspaper from the top of the stack and thence into the delivery chute.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a newspaper dispensing machine which includes a glass faced, display chamber at the front of the housing adapted to receive a newspaper of the edition being dispensed by the machine; there being mechanism operative to dispense said displayed newspaper after the last one of the stack in the housing has been dispensed. This empties the display chamber and indicates to subsequent prospective customers that the machine is empty and out of service.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical newspaper dispensing machine which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the newspaper dispensing machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the newspaper feeding unit, detached.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken through the assembly of the platform and supporting rails, showing the position of the newspaper feeding unit after the last newspaper of the stack has been dispensed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of the newspaper feeding unit in the position of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the carriageactuating mechanism including the flexible'cord system.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the gate and the releasable holding mechanism therefor, which maintains a newspaper in the display chamber.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the machine comprises an upstanding rectangular frame, indicated generallyat I, which frame is enclosed by ahousing 2; the latter including a top plate 3, a front wall 4, and a back wall 5. Within the housing 2 there is a front stop plate 6 and a back stop plate I disposed in adjacent spaced relation rearwardly of the front wall 4, and in adjacent spaced relation ahead of the back wall 5, re-

spectively.

The space between the front wall 4 and front stop'pla-te 6 forms a'display chamber for the reception of one copy of the'edition of the newspaper being dispensed by the machine. The front of the display chamber 8 is in the form of a glass window 9 included in the front wall 4. The display newspaper ill in the chamber 8 is placed in the latter. by means of a top door H, such display newspaper; being supported along its lower edge by means of a rotary horizontal gate l2 normally latched in closed position,- as will hereinafter appear.

The normally closed gate I2 is at the top of a newspaper delivery opening [3 in the front of the housing 2 adjacent the bottom thereof; said newspaper delivery opening l3 being much higher than the thickness of the ordinary newspaper and substantially the full width of said housing 2-.

A chute I4 is mounted in approximately the front half of the housing 2 and extends from a cross member [5 at a forward and downward slope through the delivery opening l3 at the bottom of the latter; said chute l4 being formed, at its lower edge and exteriorly of the front of the housing 2, with upturned stop fingers IS.

A platform 11 extends from the back wall 5 at a forward and upward incline to the cross member' l5; such platform being for the reception of a stack l8 of newspapers, with their folded edges rearniost, as shown in Fig. 1.

The forward edge of the platform H is disposed above the rearend of the chute l4, and the inclination of such platform is for the purpose of assuring that the newspapers of the stack l8 tend to remain in position in engagement with the back wall 5 when the uppermost one of the newspapers ofthe stack is dispensed in the manner hereinafter described.

The following newspaper feeding unit is included in the machine for the purpose of transferring the newspapers, one at a time, and from the top of the stack l8, forwardly onto the chute M, in the manner indicated by broken lines at IS in Fig. 1:

Within the housing 2, and adjacent but short of the top plate 3, the frame I is fitted with a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinal guide rods disposed in parallelism; there being a carriage 2| mounted on said rods for reciprocation.

A flexible cord, indicated generally at 22, such as a flexible metallic cable of light gauge, is adjustably anchored, as at 23, to the carriage 2| intermediate the ends of said cord.

The rearward run 24 of the flexible cord 22 extends in the housing 2 about direction-changing sheaves 25, and thence loops downward about the sheave 26 of a vertically guided counterweight 21; said run thence extending upwardly to an, anchor 28. The counter-weight 21, with the described reeving of the rearward run 24 of the flexible cord acts to' normally maintain the carriage 2| in a retracted position in the hous- I 3| of another vertically guided counter-weight 32; the latter being ofsubstantially less weight 7 than the counter-weight 21.

From the sheave 3| the cord run 29 extends upwardly over a sheave 33, and then passes downward and is secured to the periphery of a relatively large-diameter pulley 34 fitted with a crank handle 35, the latter being accessible on one side of the housing.

' The crankhandle 35, when manipulated, causes operation of the newspaper feeding unit, and it is contemplated that said crank handle 35 will be coin-controlled, by means of a device not here shown. 7 V I A stop 36 is mounted in the housing 2; and in connection with the frame I, in position to limit upward travel of the counter-weight 32, for the reason which will be hereinafterdescribed.

The carriage 2| includes a rigid depending bracket 31, to which a pair of spaced parallel links 38 are pivoted, as at 39; said links extending at a downward and rearward inclination to connection pivotally, as at 40, between a pair of vertical guide plates 4| included in a longitudinal body 42 which includes a pair of longitudinally extending bars 43 secured together in fixed relation. The bars 43 are fitted at the front with laterally projecting spindles 44 on which stop rollers 45 are rotatably mounted.

The longitudinal body 42 includes, at the front end of the vertical guide plates 4|, a depending lug 46 adapted to depend between a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal rails 41 which extend between the back stop plate 1 and the cross member IS in a central longitudinal'opening 48 in the platform l1,

7 A rearwardly opening U-shaped yoke 49 is fixed, intermediate its ends, to the lug 4B, and said yoke carries a transverse spindle 50. Between the legs of the yoke 49, the spindle 5|] includes a rotary spool 5| whose ends are enlarged as rollers 52. fitted with radial feed needles 53, one of which At opposite ends the spindle 50 is swings rearwardly against a stop pin 54 to normally position said needles at a forward and downward incline toward their points, the latter being at the lower ends of said needles.

The feed needles 53 are yieldable forwardly from their lower ends against the tension of a. spring 55; said yielding of the needles being together as they turn jointly with the spindle 50. When a stack of newspapers I8 is disposed on the platform H, the rollers 52 tend to ride atop said stack, whereas when the machine is empty the rotary spool 5| rides on the rails 41 with the I lug 45 depending between said rails.

In operation of the above described newspaper vending machine, the carriage 2| is normally in a retracted position, with the body i2 retracted into abutment with the back stop plate 1. To dispense a newspaper, the crank handle 34 is pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5, until a radial shoulder 56 on the pulley 34 engages a stop 51. When this occurs the forward run 29 of the cable is relatively shortened, resulting first in the counter-weight 32 risin against its stop 36, and thence in the carriage 2| traveling forwardly through a predetermined stroke on the guide rods '25. At the same time the forwardly and downwardly inclined feed needles 53 bite into the top newspaper of the stack l8, advance it from said stack, and thence deliver it free onto the chute M; the rollers 52 never running off the forward end of the stack I8. As said fed newspaper falls onto the chute l4 it slides downwardly to engage with the stop fingers l6, where it is accessible for withdrawal by the customer.

With each newspaper dispensing operation, and as the carriage 2| and longitudinal body 42 advance, the stop rollers 45 strike the front stop plate 3 before said carriage reaches its foremost point of advance, as" shown in the right-hand dotted-line position in Fig. 1. The result is that when the carriage 2| completes its forward travel, after said stop rollers 45 engage the front stop plate 5, the parallel links 38 cause said body 42 and the mechanism thereon to rise slightly; this to assure that the newspaper being fed freely escapes the feed needles 53 at the forward end of the stroke of the newspaper feeding unit. The stop rollers 45, being anti-friction means, reduce the drag which would otherwise be imposed on the body 42 as it rises.

'After a newspaper is so dispensed and the crank handle 35 released, the counter-weight 21, being of greater weight than the counter-weight 32, acts to return all of the parts to their starting positions; the needles 53 merely dragging rearwardly over the top newspaper without penetration, by reason of the downward and forward inclination of said needles and their ability to yield forwardly at their lower ends.

It should here be noted that the arrangement of the parallel links 38 permits the longitudinal :body 42, and the parts thereon, to automatically adjust from a high starting position on top of the stack i8 progressively downward as the newspapers are dispensed. Yet by virtue of the compensating counter-weights 21 and 32 in the runs 24 and 29 of the flexible cord 22, the longitudinal body 42 and the parts thereon travel through an equal or constant stroke with successive newspaper dispensing operations, and as is necessary to feed each newspaper effectively from the top of the stack l8 onto the chute M. In this connection note in the dotted and full line positions of the newspaper feeding unit, in the left hand 3min -;portion .of *Fig.T1," that atudiflerentizheights "tithe stack 1 t8 the carriage? hocoupies :difierentdongitu'dinal positions, but. each of zsuchapositions thelongitudina3l 'bo'dyfli Z returns fullyztozitsastarting position in abutment with -"the lback tstop iplate l.

After the last newspaper of the i stack I58 lthas ibeeni-dispensed, the. machine; is operative .to dispense the display newspaper zlflifrom itheidisplay chamber 8. This is accomplished 'asfol-lows:

.Atcrossrshaft 582is journale'd :belowtherrails 4] adjacent the'forward ends thereof, andsaid cross :shafti5'8 includes: an upstanding :trigger -59 which extends between :said rails #41! On .the next-foll'owingzoperation-'ofxthe'crank:handie 3.5iafter the .last :newspaper .is dispensed from :the :stack 18, theirotary :spool :51 ,nunsaonthe rails 4:1,, with the zlug lfi :travelingrbetween the latter to ithenenga-ge and trip-the trigger 59.

When :this occurs; anabove-dead center,=radial lever ".60 on the cross shaft 58 :is swung .below dead-center, pulling :rearwardly ion a connecting xodB-I .connected'to a radial lever 62 on ithe'zrotary gate l2, causing opening of the latter. When the :rotary, gate 1 2 opens, the a display newspaper .110 .slides edownward :against the stop fingers I6 for access by .the customer. When the display newspaper ID :has .thus been dispensed, subse- .quent prospective customers know that the :machine is'empty. The lever 50 is normally maintained at above dead-center by means of a springspressed rod unit-63 connected-to a lever :64 on the .cross shaft 58, which lever .64 normally :bears against the front of a stop65. At the end of :the :cross :shaft 58 opposite thelever fil there is a reset crank 66. This reset-crank :66 is .employed for the purpose of re-latching or closing the rotary gate 12 by swinging the lever 60 upwardly to its-normalabove dead-center position. The reset crank 66 is accessible from the adjacent side of the housing, "which includes a-door (not shown), and which door is'used'for the entry or placement .of'the stack I 8 of newspapers into the machine. 1

Operation of the machine is intended to "be controlled by the depositing of .a coin in a :slot :indicatedat 61 in Fig. 6, the coin control mechanism forming no part of this invention. It is contemplated, however, that this slot shall be closed by a shutter 68 connected to a lever 69. This lever in turn is connected to a stem Hiassociated with spring 63 and connected to .lever 64. The shutter 68 and lever 69 are arranged so that when gate I2 is opened to dispense the display newspaper ill, the shutter is moved to close the coin slot 61, thus definitely placing the machine out of service.

The above described newspaper vending machine provides for the ready, convenient, and practical dispensing of newspapers, one at a time to customers, without the need of an attendant; the machine being relatively simple in its structure, economical to manufacture, and having mechanism which is not likely to become out of order. 1

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the'device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

8 mavin'githus rlescribed the invention. zthe ifelloWing I=is a claimed :as new and useful, and iu'pon which Letters ARatent -a're desired:

*1. A newspaper dispensing :machine "comprising a :housing .having a delivery opening at the frontsa chute in the housingaleadingrto .the opening, "a newspaper Istack platform :in the housing to the rear Iof the chute, a :c'arriage mounted to reciprocate longitudinally above the stack, vertically spaced parallel links .pivotally connected to the carriage and'extending longitudinally downward at :an incline, a newspaper engaging device "pivoted "to the links at their lower ends, said device normally resting on the top newspaper or the stack in i feeding :relation thereto, and' mechanism connected to the carriage to ireciprocate the same from a normally retracted position.

-2. A newspaper dispensing machine comprising "a housing having a delivery opening at the from, a chute" in thehousing leading'ito "the iopem :ing, anewspaperstack "platform in the housing to "the rear of the chute, a carriage mounted "to reciprocate longitudinally above the stack, vertically spaced parallel links pivota'lly iconnected'to the carriage and extending longitudinally downward at "an incline, a newspaper 'eng'agin'g devicepivoted to the links at itheir lower ends, said device normally resting on the top newspaper of the stack in feeding relation there-- to, and mechanism connected to the carriage to reciprocate the same from a normally retracted position; the carriage occupying "varying retracted positions dependent on the height'of the stack-and the resultant inclination of the links, and said mechanism being arranged to compensate for said varying carriage positions.

*3. A newspaper dispensing machine comprising a'housing'having a delivery opening at the front, a chute in the housing leading to the opening, a newspaper stack platform in the housing to'the re'arof the chute, a carriage mounted to reciprocate longitudinally above the stack, vertically spaced parallel links pivotally connected to the "carriage and extending longitudinally downward at an incline, *a newspaper engaging device pivoted to the links at their lower ends, said device normally resting on the top newspaper or thestack in feeding relation thereto, and mechanism connected to the carriage to reciprocate the same'from a normally retracted position; the carriage occupying varying retracted positions dependent on the height of the stack and the resultant inclination of the links, and said mechanism includes a flexible cord connected intermediate its ends to the carriage, one run of the cord connecting to a pull device and the other run being anchored, and counterweights connected to each run, said counterweights providing compensation in the cord runs for said varying carriage position.

4. A newspaper dispensing machine comprising a housing having a delivery opening at the front, a chute in the housing leading to the opening, a newspaper stack platform in the housing to the rear of the chute, a carriage mounted to reciprocate longitudinally above the stack, vertically spaced parallel links pivotally connected to the carriage and extending longitudinally downward at a rearward incline, a newspaper engaging device pivoted to the links at their lower end, said device including an element normally resting on the top newspaper of the stack in feeding relation thereto, mechanism connected to the carriage to reciprocate the same from a normally retracted position to a fully advanced position; and cooperating stop means between the device and housing to cause said device to halt in its' advancing movement before the completion of advancing movement of the carriage while allowing of upward movement of the device whereby upon movement of the carriage to its fully advanced position the links will swing to raise the device clear of the fed top newspaper so as to free it onto said chute.

5. A newspaper dispensing machine, as in claim 4, in which said stop means includes a transverse axis roller on the device, and a cooperating upstanding plate fixed in the housing, the roller reducing the friction of said raising of the device.

6. A newspaper dispensing machine comprising a housing-having a delivery opening at the front, a chute in the housing leading to the opening, a newspaper stack platform in the housing to the rear of the chute, a normally retracted, reciprocating, newspaper feeding device adapted to seat on the top newspaper of the stack in feeding relation thereto, said device being mounted for vertical floating to lower upon successive reduction in the height of the stack, manually controlled mechanism to reciprocate said device, the machine including a housing having a, newspaper display chamber at the front, a normally closed gate at the bottom of the chamber to retain a display newspaper, the gate when opened delivering the display newspaper to the chute, and

means to open the gate upon theactuation of the mechanism following its actuation to feed the last newspaper of the stack.

7. A newspaper dispensing machine comprising a housing having a delivery opening at the front, a chute in the housing leading to the opening, a newspaper stack platform in the housing to the rear of the chute, a normally retracted, reciprocating, newspaper feeding device adapted to seat on the top newspaper of the stack in feeding relation thereto, said device being mounted forvertical floating to lower upon successive reduction in the height of the stack, manually controlled mechanism to reciprocate said device, the machine including a housing having a newspaper display chamber at the front, a normally closed gate at the bottom of the chamber to retain a display newspaper, the gate when opened delivering the display newspaper to the chute, and means to open the gate upon the actuation of the mechanism following its actuation to feed the last newspaper of the stack; said last named means including a trigger positioned to be engaged and advanced by the newspaper feeding device upon reciprocation thereof from the position it occupies only after feeding of said last newspaper from the stack.

8. A'newspaper dispensing machine comprising a housing having a delivery opening at the front, a chute in the housing leading to the opening, a newspaper stack platform in the housin to the rear of the chute, a carriage mounted to reciprocate longitudinally above the stack, vertically spaced parallel links pivotally connected to 'the' carriage and extending longitudinally downward at an incline, a newspaper engaging device pivoted to the links at their lower ends, s'aid dev'icenormally resting on the top newspaper of the stack in feeding relation thereto, manually controlled mechanism to reciprocate 'saiddevice, the machine including a housing having a'newspaper display chamber at the front, a normally closed gate at the bottom of the chamber to'retain a display newspaper, the gate when opened delivering the display newspaper to the chute, and means to open the gate upon the actuation of the mechanism following its actuation to feed the last named newspaper of the stack; the device resting on the platform after feeding of the last newspaper from the stack, and said last named means including a trigger to be engaged and advanced by the newspaper feeding device upon reciprocation thereof from said position of rest on the platform.

JOHN EDWARD OPGENORTH,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 925,595 Potter June 22, 1909 1,049,414 Shepherd Jan. 7, 1913 2,366,592 Cameron Jan. 2, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 320,079 Germany Dec. 5, 1916 

